Depression and Loneliness track me down after about ten days in Italy. I am walking through the Villa Borghese one evening after a happy day spent in school, and the sun is setting gold over St. Peter's Basilica. I am feeling contented in this romantic scene, even if I am all by myself, while everyone else in the park is either fondling a lover or playing with a laughing child. But I stop to lean against a balustrade and watch the sunset, and I get to thinking a little too much, and then my thinking turns to brooding, and that's when they catch up with me.

在意大利待了十天左右，“抑郁”和“寂寞”追捕到我。上了一天快乐的课之后，一天傍晚，我漫步过博盖塞花园，金色夕阳落在圣彼得大教堂上。我对这浪漫景象感到满足，尽管孤伶伶一个人，而公园里的其他人不是跟爱人亲热就是陪着嘻笑的孩童玩耍。然而我停下来倚靠在栏杆上，观看夕阳， 开始想得太多了点，而后转为沉思，于是它们在此时追查到我。

They come upon me all silent and menacing like Pinkerton Detectives, and they flank me—Depression on my left, Loneliness on my right. They don't need to show me their badges. I know these guys very well. We've been playing a cat-and-mouse game for years now. Though I admit that I am surprised to meet them in this elegant Italian garden at dusk. This is no place they belong.

它们像侦探似地，一声不响、满怀敌意地找上我，把我夹在中间——左侧是“抑郁”，右侧是“寂寞”。它们无须亮出徽章，我对这两个家伙了若指掌。我们已玩了多年猫捉老鼠的游戏。尽管我承认，暮色中，在优雅的意大利庭园里见到他们，着实令我 大吃一惊。它们不属于这个地方。

I say to them, "How did you find me here? Who told you I had come to Rome?"

我对它们说“你们怎么发现我在这里？谁告诉你们我来了罗马？”

Depression, always the wise guy, says, "What—you're not happy to see us?"

老是自作聪明的“抑郁”说：“什么——你不高兴看见我们？”

"Go away," I tell him.

“走开。”我告诉它。

Loneliness, the more sensitive cop, says, "I'm sorry, ma'am. But I might have to tail you the whole time you're traveling. It's my assignment."

比较善解人意的警察“寂寞”说：“很抱歉，夫人，我可能非得在你旅行期间从头到尾监视你。这是我的任务。”

"I'd really rather you didn't," I tell him, and he shrugs almost apologetically, but only moves closer.

“我宁可你不这么做，”我告诉它，但它只是稍带歉意地耸耸肩，却靠得更近。